Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-10
WORKS WICHITA WORDS.

Mr.. Byron Works. brother of DR..
Works of this city, who visited Wichita a
short time since, writes the following letter
which we clip from the Steubenville,
Qndiana) Herald:
In the first place, she is 2SS miles west
of Kansas City, and not a much greater
distance east of Denver. In all this vast
scope OF country there is no city that can
compete with Wichita in magnitude and
railroad advantages, which make her queen
of the situation. Take map of Kansas
and note the great stretch of territory trib-
utary to Wichita by railroads centering
here, and compare its area with the coun-
try tributary to Toledo, Cleveland and
Detroit, and the comparison is much in
favor of Wichita. Then note the fertility
OF this vast section Of country, and reflect
that it is only question of little time
when great portion of the fair Indian
Territory will pay her tribute to Wichita,
and how can one doubt longer? But
more than tbis-She has seven
railroads in actual operation, and
five more building as rapid
idly as possible. She has twenty miles of
| street car lines in operation, and thirty more
! miles Of horse, steam and electric motor
lines completed, and to be completed and
running by September 1. She has numer-
Gus schools, colleges and universities now
completed and in progress of completion.
In fact, in this regard, she promises to be-
come the Athens Of America Most prom
inent among her educational institutions
stand the following: Garfield university, |
on the west SIDE under the management of !
the Christian church. This university is |
magnificent structure and capitalized at |
800, 900. The Catholic See and Diocese |
and buildings, costing several hundred |
thousand dollars; the Judson (Baptist uni |
versity, $3.50, 900; the John Bright univer |
sity, $3.50, 900; German Lutheran college, !
$3.50, 900; the Presbyterian college, about |
500, 900; Paramount college Qadies) $685. !
600.
Wichita has Government building |
which will cost 100000 The opera
house now, but a new and better one |
building to cost $4,000. A new hotel. |
the Carey house. now nearing completion,
costing 1926, 000 Besides these are costly |
business blocks now building, "too tedious
to MENTION" and new residences erected |
here this year run up into the thousands, a
very large portion Of them fine structures
of modern Queen Ann and Elizabeth styles
of architecture. The buildings erected
and in process of erection since January l,
will cost over S., 100000 In the way Of
churches, Wichita has over twenty. She
has water works, electric light, gas, tele-
phone exchange, board of trade, free mail
delivery and many other features of
metropolitan character. The A. T.. s.
S. F. railroad, has, within the past few
days put on through freight and passenger
service from Kynsas City, through Wichi-
ia, to the Gulf of Mexico, thus giving
Wichita direct communication with the
sea board The Rock Island railroad now
building, will open up to her the cheap
coal fields in the Indian territory and sever
al roads connect her with the lumber re-
gions of the Southeast Good building
stone is obtained in abundance within
twelve miles of the city. a stone that while
easily wrought, is quite durable. A well
for gas or oil is now being bored. Con-
siderable has already been accomplished
here in the way Of manufactures, and new
plants are being located quite
rapidly. 1t IS becoming quite
a manufacturing center and is
destined to become much more 50. The
Board OF Trade are active In securing all
such concerns to locate here. The latest
prOJecCS now unuer cOnslu-
Grafton are watch factory and two boot
and shoe factories, one of which will have .
q capital of 100000 Besides this ST.
BOO, 900 packing. house is considered a
surety before the snow flies next winter. A
number of wholesale houses are established 7
here already but there is good opening
for more The city occupies level loca ::
io1, though sufficiently elevated for easy =
sewerage. Taxes are low, owing to Il
he great increase Of individual C
wealth over public expenses. The real f
estate market, though not so active as it :.
vas last winter, is very firm. and much of J
he realty is out of the market. n
The following statement will give some .
dea of the growth of this remarkable city: A
The city was first laid out in March, 1870.
IN 1882 its population was a little over o
). 700; in 1888 it was 5000; in 1884 it was n
g, 474; in 1885. 1903; in 1886. &c, 006 and Il
low in 1887 it contains So 900 or over, and
t is not unreasonable to expect it to reach 9,
90, 900 In the near future, in which case u
III additions plated on the outskirts will b
Ne needed 4